[01] Muhammad Sarwar, Nuclear Institute for Agriculture & Biology (NIAB), Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan.

Fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) pose a severe economic threat for the fruit or vegetable growers and in areas of the world where this pest is well established has been responsible for 100% losses of some commercial plantings. The feeding damage of fruit fly maggots (larvae) destroys the pulp, allowing the entry of secondary bacteria and fungi, and cause premature fruit drop and degrade the quality of production. Many farmers at the moment are trying to find sustainable ways to remove pests without harming the ecosystem. The key for controlling fruit fly infestations is to locate and eliminate their breeding sources and the first obvious place to check is where large numbers of rotting fruits or vegetables accumulate. Mechanical pest control is the management and control of pests using substantial means such as fences, barriers, handpicking, insect vacuums, water pressure sprays or electronic devices. It also includes weeding, breeding sources reduction and sanitary measures to tackle pest control. Mechanical methods of controlling the fruit fly further include the use of protective coverings on the fruit and the destruction of adults by use of traps. Shrubs within about hundred meters of larval hosts may be used advantageously in placing traps in target locality. The use of protective coverings is more effective and somewhat costly than the use of traps. This includes the simple fly swat, fly screen and nets, exclusion methods and the use of temperature regimes against storage of produce. Ultra violet insect light traps may be of little help because fruit flies are more attracted to host’s odor than to the ultra violet light. However, mechanical measures may include use of attractants and other types of traps that can be helpful for attracting flies. The widespread and rapid establishments of the fruit fly in the world require immediate changes in integrated pest management (IPM) programs and mechanical methods of controlling may be a part of this program. It makes the present invention a well suited option for pest management in a variety of plantings. This aspect, however, requires a further good deal of study so as to determine the more critical procedure of mechanical controlling and the influence on the quality of the final produce.

Tephritids, Fruit Files, Fruit, Vegetable, Traps, Mechanical Control

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